* This is not the time to scrimp on ingredients. Only the best will do.
* Chocolate: Use the very best unsweetened gourmet chocolate you can buy. Baker's is the most popular. It comes in one ounce squares. Important! It MUST be unsweetened chocolate.
* Butter: Pure butter is the only way to go. If you must substitute, use a butter blend or high grade margarine. Make sure it is softened, not cold or warm.
* Whipping Cream: Also called heavy cream, has the most butter-fat. Make sure it is fresh.
* Pie Pans: Any pan will do, but your pie will look especially nice in a deep dish pan. It also gives you more height to pile the whipped cream as high as you dare.
* Mixer: A high speed KitchenAid mixer will whip this pie together in no time. Doing it by hand will take forever and will not give you the same results.

1. Melt chocolate in a small bowl over hot water. Do not let the chocolate harden up.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter at medium to high speed about 1 minute.
3. Add sugar, 1/4 cup at a time and continue to beat until light and fluffy. This will take 3-5 minutes. Scrape bowl often. It must be mixed long enough so it is no longer gritty.
4. Slowly add the melted chocolate to the butter mixture, beating on low to medium speed until the chocolate is well blended and mixture is smooth and creamy. Scrape again.
5. On medium speed, add eggs one at a time, beating after each one before adding the next egg.Scrape bowl.
6. Add vanilla and give it one more mix.
7. Spread into The Best Ever Pie Crust. Set aside.

1. In large mixing bowl, beat cream until it sets up. There is no way to explain how long this will take. Every mixer is different. It should be light and fluffy and look like soft whipped cream. Do NOT let it get to the butter stage which can happen very quickly. If in doubt, under mix. You can always whip it a little more after the sugar is added.
2. Add powdered sugar and and vanilla and beat until fluffy and stiff. Do not over beat.
3. Put whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip and decorate the pie. Or pile the cream on high with a spatula.
4. Sprinkle with chocolate curls.
5. Refrigerate pie and any leftovers.

My sil last thanksgiving made a pie called a lemonade pie? I thought it was just another name for lemon meringue but it was different and very very good. Maybe you can google it? I didn't ask her for the recipe because I am the newest sil and I don't know her very well. Another favorite is chocolate. If you don't want to make a meringue topping you can always do whipped cream/ready whip. Goodluck with whatever you decide All the ideas sound yummy! Maybe there is somekind of freezer/no bake pie that would be yummy as well?